Allstate vs. State National: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, State National offers significantly less expensive prices than Allstate
• Allstate tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• State National offers more affordable average premiums for residents of urban areas

Allstate vs. State National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Allstate or State National as your top options, but which one has less expensive prices for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, State National is about $40 per month more affordable than Allstate.

Even so, that doesn't mean State National will necessarily be cheaper than Allstate for every single driver. Insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Allstate or State National is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Allstate or State National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and State National only compete against each other in California, where State National offers the cheaper average premiums. For California residents, State National offers car insurance for $159 monthly on average. Allstate's average rates come out to be over 40% more expensive, at $232 a month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use State National save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use Allstate. It's worth noting that Allstate offers auto insurance in 47 different states compared to State National's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will drop rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Allstate policyholders decrease almost $300 and State National's rates lower more than $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the lowest car insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

When looking at Allstate and State National specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? State National gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $34 more affordable than the national average for Allstate.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be less expensive for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having several cars on their policy -- something lots of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, State National is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $50 per month cheaper than Allstate, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - State National has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Allstate vs. State National: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to offer men more expensive premiums.

With Allstate, men generally pay about $10 a month more than women; and with State National, both genders end up paying the same monthly price.

Looking at overall affordability, State National comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $44 per month and women save around $35 with State National compared to the average Allstate policyholder.

Allstate or State National: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

But the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, State National usually offers significantly less expensive rates of $79 compared to Allstate's $108. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State National again has the edge, with policies about $50 a month more affordable than Allstate, on average.

Is Allstate or State National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Allstate or State National cheaper for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Allstate policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $27 per month if they get a ticket, while State National normally raises rates around $40 a month, on average.

That being said, State National has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $54 and $41 cheaper, respectively, compared to Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through State National will see about a 30% increase.

Overall, State National offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $142 compared to Allstate's $229.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, State National will climb your prices around 60% after a DUI, while Allstate's average rates rise by over 30%.

Allstate has the overall lowest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $227 per month, but it's worth noting that Allstate's average rates come from 47 states compared to just one for State National, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and State National Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which company offers the cheapest prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Normally, if you have great credit, you can expect to be rewarded. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will usually save Allstate customers about $25. State National, on the other hand, doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your premiums.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can cost you with Allstate. If your credit score is in the "poor" range, at Allstate, you may pay around $70 more per month compared to those with "fair" scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). On the other hand, State National doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means drivers with bad credit may find better rates with State National over Allstate.

Is Allstate or State National Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, State National offers cheaper prices than Allstate. Allstate's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 28% more expensive than State National. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay around 11% more with Allstate over State National.

Allstate vs. State National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

State National boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State National offers premiums about $173 a month compared to Allstate's $222. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $163 a month for State National and $199 for Allstate. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest rates from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $143 and $174 for State National and Allstate respectively.

Allstate vs. State National Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Allstate and State National so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Allstate blows State National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to State National's 10.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a good driver, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts. Allstate also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that State National does not.

On the flip side, State National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- auto-pilot discounts and group discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or State National Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific needs?

State National might be best for you if....

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local carrier.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You have a short commute.

Allstate might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- State National only offers policies in California.
• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You care about discounts (Allstate offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Allstate and State National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Allstate and State National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. State National FAQs

Is Allstate or State National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, State National is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $159 per month compared to $199 for Allstate. Even so, State National won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Allstate or State National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, State National offers more affordable prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Allstate is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Allstate and State National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Variables like your driving record, age, gender, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Allstate and State National calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Allstate or State National is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Allstate or State National at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.